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GDT: Sabres (Buffalo) @ Lightning (Tampa Bay), 7:30 p.m., February 3, 2026 (ESPN+/HULU XCLUSIVE, WGR-550)


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Posted (edited)

The Sabres are back at it to end the back-to-back series in Florida against the Lightning Bolts of Tampa Bay. 

I don't like to throw this term around lightly, but factoring in seasonal depression and the need to rack up more points, this is an absolute MUST WIN game. At least for my mental health. 

Tampa is 8-1-1 in the last 10, which is good for best in the league, and they've had a day of rest. Tonight will be a true test for the Sabres.

Edited by Mustache of God
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Posted

I’m a little disappointed that there is no disrespectful typo in the title.

Pretty hard to beat the Flap Antlers, but the circumstances are crying for some type of swagger.

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Posted

Huge test without this being a back to back game.

I guess Ellis is in net, he will have to be sharp.

On the plus side, Tampa’s C spine is damaged, Point is out and Cirelli missed some time last game.

Play hard and entertain me. I would consider a loser point as a victory but they have the horses to win this outright.

Let’s go Buffalo!

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Posted
6 minutes ago, CallawaySabres said:

Any word on Benson?

I'd be very surprised if he plays...couldn't finish the game last night. Honestly was shocked he even came back on the ice for a shift after to try and keep playing but then couldn't and went right back down the tunnel and didn't return.

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Posted
12 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I’m a little disappointed that there is no disrespectful typo in the title.

Pretty hard to beat the Flap Antlers, but the circumstances are crying for some type of swagger.

I tried but but Tamp Blighting didn't have the same ring.

2 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

I'd be very surprised if he plays...couldn't finish the game last night. Honestly was shocked he even came back on the ice for a shift after to try and keep playing but then couldn't and went right back down the tunnel and didn't return.

I'm giving Benson a 6% chance at playing tonight.

Hopefully Norris can return.

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Posted (edited)

Another game where our boys have a chance to move up the Division ladder. With both Detroit and the Habs having the night off our Sabres could find themselves 1 pt back of 2nd place in the division if they win.

Edited by Scottysabres
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Posted (edited)

Tampa is the cream of the crop in the east and Kucherov is the best player in the conference. But to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. It’ll be a good test of our acumen today. Waiting on my call back to put in my deposit for seasons. If this year goes to *****, I’m your guy to blame 

1 hour ago, Cityo'Rasmii said:

Sabres.com showing tonight's game @7:30pm

Screenshot_20260203_104647_DuckDuckGo.jpg

7:30 is accurate.

Edited by #freejame
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  • Mustache of God changed the title to GDT: Sabres (Buffalo) @ Lightning (Tampa Bay), 7:30 p.m., February 3, 2026 (ESPN+/HULU XCLUSIVE, WGR-550)
Posted

These are good, play-off intensity games for the boys to experience. HUGE test against the best tonight with the always challenging 3rd in 4, second of a back to back making it that much more of a difficult test. Hopefully the moms got them to bed on time last night.

I’m cutting them a lot of slack tonight but tired or not, I cannot abide being stupid or lazy on the ice. 

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Posted
3 minutes ago, K-9 said:

These are good, play-off intensity games for the boys to experience. HUGE test against the best tonight with the always challenging 3rd in 4, second of a back to back making it that much more of a difficult test. Hopefully the moms got them to bed on time last night.

I’m cutting them a lot of slack tonight but tired or not, I cannot abide being stupid or lazy on the ice. 

They've actually been surprisingly good in the 2nd game of btb's this year.  Don't recall the exact record, but IIRC it's actually better than they are in the 1st game of the btb's.

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Posted
9 minutes ago, Mustache of God said:

I tried but but Tamp Blighting didn't have the same ring.

I'm giving Benson a 6% chance at playing tonight.

Hopefully Norris can return.

Listening to Lindy this morning and it sounds like Norris won’t be in the line up until the Pittsburgh game. benson isn’t serious and it will depend on how he feels “when he wakes up this morning”. 

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Posted
5 minutes ago, steveoath said:

Biggest test so far. A heavy team who’ve had rest.  Let’s get it done. 

If Point and Cirelli are both playing, it'll be a very tough slog.  Without them, maybe they see a rookie goalie and a team that's missed the playoffs the past 14 seasons and also see that FLA is on the schedule before about 1/2 the team departs for Italy while still reveling in their 1st ever win after being down by 4 goals.

Especially if they don't respect the Sabres oar-gan-eye-zay-shun, this could be a trap game for them.

Go 'bres!

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Posted
1 minute ago, Taro T said:

If Point and Cirelli are both playing, it'll be a very tough slog.  Without them, maybe they see a rookie goalie and a team that's missed the playoffs the past 14 seasons and also see that FLA is on the schedule before about 1/2 the team departs for Italy while still reveling in their 1st ever win after being down by 4 goals.

Especially if they don't respect the Sabres oar-gan-eye-zay-shun, this could be a trap game for them.

Go 'bres!

Skate fast from the opening drop and get immediate (Tuch-tap for a shorthanded breakaway) pressure Raddysh on the point the PP. 

Build a lead for the third and do a better job of closing them out than Boston when the legs get heavy.

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Posted (edited)
6 minutes ago, Taro T said:

If Point and Cirelli are both playing, it'll be a very tough slog.  Without them, maybe they see a rookie goalie and a team that's missed the playoffs the past 14 seasons and also see that FLA is on the schedule before about 1/2 the team departs for Italy while still reveling in their 1st ever win after being down by 4 goals.

Especially if they don't respect the Sabres oar-gan-eye-zay-shun, this could be a trap game for them.

Go 'bres!

I love the ‘bres significantly more than Sabs that the kids at WGR try to disseminate.  Sabs or Sabes whatever you go with just doesn’t work for me. Idk why, it just sounds wrong.  I like ‘bres or maybe it’ll amalgamate into ‘brrrrs like they’re cold (in a good way).  
 

Like Joe Brrrr for Joe Burrow.  He’s cold! 

Edited by inkman
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Posted
26 minutes ago, Taro T said:

They've actually been surprisingly good in the 2nd game of btb's this year.  Don't recall the exact record, but IIRC it's actually better than they are in the 1st game of the btb's.

This is one pro of having one of the youngest teams in the league. The kids never stop. 

Expecting to see Ellis in net tonight, perhaps his biggest game of the season?

 

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Posted

 

29 minutes ago, Taro T said:

They've actually been surprisingly good in the 2nd game of btb's this year.  Don't recall the exact record, but IIRC it's actually better than they are in the 1st game of the btb's.

 

Tampa seems to get a bunch of teams on the second night of back to backs.

They get Buffalo 2x and I think they just had San Jose off of one as well. 

Posted
6 minutes ago, Mango said:

Tampa seems to get a bunch of teams on the second night of back to backs.

They get Buffalo 2x and I think they just had San Jose off of one as well. 

It's an obvious fit for the schedule-makers to do FLA-TB quick stops. I wonder if anyone (not it!) has the time and willingness to see how they've both fared at home as they trade off opponents on back-to-backs over the years.

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Posted
24 minutes ago, inkman said:

I love the ‘bres significantly more than Sabs that the kids at WGR try to disseminate.  Sabs or Sabes whatever you go with just doesn’t work for me. Idk why, it just sounds wrong.  I like ‘bres or maybe it’ll amalgamate into ‘brrrrs like they’re cold (in a good way).  
 

Like Joe Brrrr for Joe Burrow.  He’s cold! 

bres is better than Sabs but they both stink. 

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Posted (edited)

Tamp Blighting is now a heavy team.   This will be another big test on B2B and 3 game in 4 nights. 

I doubt we see Benson which is big.  Krebs will probably move up to "top line". 

Ellis needs to be good tonight.  He needs to cover the puck better than his last few games.  

If Ellis is solid we have a chance.   Looking for some others to step up, maybe get a 4th line goal?  Maybe Kesselring gets his first?  

Rosen had 3:08 TOI last night.  Will Helenius be back in the lineup with a rocket up his azz?   Will Greenway play? 

Calling @Brawndo 

Edited by Pimlach
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Posted
1 hour ago, dudacek said:

I’m a little disappointed that there is no disrespectful typo in the title.

Pretty hard to beat the Flap Antlers, but the circumstances are crying for some type of swagger.

Anthers.

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